TORONTO (Mar. 12) — The playoff season in professional sport is often unpredictable and promises can rarely be kept. If form prevails, however, this spring could be like none other in our city’s history.
The weekend past provided yet another… Read More

TORONTO (Dec. 2) — As long as I live, I will never understand talented people with enviable public profiles sabotaging their own careers. There’s more than enough malice in our world today for others to try and take down these… Read More

TORONTO (Oct. 26) — The worst team in the National Hockey League to begin the 2017–18 season has some colossal number–crunching on the horizon. And you have to think that a rival general manager — at some point — will… Read More

TORONTO (Oct. 3) — In my last blog, I wrote that the Maple Leafs are “deep and talented enough” to play in the Stanley Cup semifinals next spring. What I didn’t write is that Round 2 could be their biggest… Read More

TORONTO (Sep. 4) — The names have changed with ownership and the unquestioned priority of television over radio — from CJCL AM–1430 to The Fan–1430; The FAN–590; Sportsnet Radio The FAN–590 and, today, Sportsnet–590 The FAN. What will never change… Read More

TORONTO (July 31) — With Leafs Nation ominously assuring itself that all draft components will remain in place beyond 2019, and media wondering if the addition of Patrick Marleau indicates the club is “going for it” now, here’s a question… Read More

TORONTO (Oct. 5) — The moments are beginning to pile up for second–generation fans of the Toronto Blue Jays. Primarily, the Millennials that experienced an initial pennant race and playoff run by the long–dormant club last Autumn. Such first–generation observers… Read More

TORONTO (July 20) — When Phil Kessel told Sportsnet–590 on June 15 that he would likely bring the Stanley Cup to our city, many figured his incentive was to stick it up the old wahzoo of Leafs Nation.
The multitudes… Read More

NOTE: My dearth of blogging in the past week is owed to a battle with a kidney stone, which has prevailed over me on several occasions. It is said that the pain of renal colic is akin to child–birth. And, … Read More

TORONTO (Nov. 27) — It is a timeworn and chauvinistic axiom that repeatedly bears itself: “One man’s gain is another man’s loss.” Run it past either of Jonathan Bernier or James Reimer and he’ll nod heartily.
This two–step tango has… Read More

TORONTO (Oct. 24) — Parting is such sweet sorrow, particularly if you’ve gone steady for three months — as have people in this city with the Toronto Blue Jays. In the blink of an eye, an every–day relationship ends, only… Read More

TORONTO (Oct. 13) — That loud, hammering noise you heard throughout the weekend was methodical re–construction of the Toronto Blue Jays’ bandwagon. Big surprise, huh?
My goodness how quickly people run white flags up the pole around here.
Yes, the… Read More

TORONTO (Sep. 28) — It was the greatest moment by the greatest player of the greatest Toronto Blue Jays team in nearly a quarter–century. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have mattered.
The bottom–of–the–ninth, walk–off home run by Josh Donaldson on Sunday that… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Aug. 17) — With an entire generation of greenhorns sitting shiva for the Blue Jays after consecutive losses to the New York Yankees on the weekend, there is suddenly an afterlife. There reallyis.
No, our… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Aug. 14) — The words rang hollow from one of our city’s most shrewd and reviled executives — often accompanied by a smirk that people interpreted as wry and disingenuous. Years later, however, the Toronto Blue… Read More

By HOWARD BERGERTORONTO (Aug. 13) —
What is it about the Toronto Blue Jays and eleven–game win streaks? On five occasions in the past 28 years, the ball club has strung together 11 victories. Not once, has it captured… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Aug. 11) — In the short term, the Toronto Blue Jays are marvelously equipped to compete in a best–of–five or best–of–seven playoff series. To obtain that privilege, Alex Anthopoulos shredded the farm system he developed as… Read More

By HOWARD BERGERTORONTO (July 28) — In the end, there really was no choice.
While ferrying the longest playoff drought (21 seasons) of any team in the four major North American sports — and with more than two months… Read More

Who is

Howard Berger

Hockey/baseball reporter at THE FAN-590 for 23 years (1988-2011), and original from September 1992 launch of Canada’s first all-sports radio station. Covered Toronto Blue Jays 1992 and 1993 World Series victories. Started with Leafs full time in 1994. Enjoying life with my family (kids Shane and Lauren).